Sealed applicator



Jan. 10, 1967 G. SCHWARTZMIAN 3,296,649

SEALED APPLI CATOR Filed Oct. 20, 1964 E SheeS-Sheet l Jan. l0, 1967 G.ySCI-WARTZNIAN 3,296,649

SEALED APPLI CATOR Filed Oct. 20, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. l0, i967 G.scHWARTzMAN 3,296,649

SEALED APPLICATOR Filed Oct. 20, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. /3

United States Patent O 3,296,549 SEALED APPLICATOR Gilbert Schwartzman,Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, NX. 10583 Filed Oct. 20, 1964, Ser. No.405,191 15 Claims. (Cl. 15-566) This invention relates to a fiuidapplicator or a dauber and is adapted for applying shoe polish,cosmetics, medicationsy paints or marking pigments, or the like onvarious surfaces.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a dauber forfacilitating the application of cosmetics, medications, shoe polish,paints, marking materials, or other suitable fluids or the like.

Various types of applicators have been devised which are provided withvalve means for controlling the flow of fluid from the interior of theappliactor and onto a dauber head. However, because of the nature ofsuch applicators, there is always a furthermore, it has been difficultto ,provide a dauber possibility of seepage and head of a desiredeffective shape which will not only fa- Y cilitate the application of aneven iiow of iiuid onto the surface to be covered but which willautomatically actuate the valve means while the uid is being applied.While prior art applicators have been produced with dauber heads servingto actuate mechanical valves, it has been very diiiicult to obtainproper sealing of the valve means thereof to prevent undesired fluidiiow when the applicator is not in use and especially prior to rst useof the applicator so as to prevent evaporation or spilling prior to suchiirst use thereof. Shoe polish, cosmetics, and medications often have abase of volatile fluids and are prone to evaporate. Further, such fluidsare of the type which will stain garments and other items closelyadjacent thereto if there is any spillage and loss of contents. Further,tiuid applicators such as are used with medications, cosmetics or shoepolish or the like are often packed in luggage such as suitcases fortravel by air. It is therefore a further object of this invention toovercome the disadvantages of prior art daubers by preventing leaking orspilling with an initial fluid-tight seal and by providing for bettercontrol of fluid liow of the Inaterial being applied while also assuringthat the material will be spread evenly over the entire surface beingcovered by the dauber.

Still another object -of the invention resides in the provision of anapplicator which includes a novel compressed valve body disposed in arecess prior to iirst use which provides a primary fluid-tight seal,which compressed valve body is ejected from the recess after first useand functions to provide for a secondary seal when the dauber is not inuse and which will permit fluid flow to the dauber head while theapplicator is in use.

A further obj-ect of the invention resides in the provision of acombination valve member and dauber head in which the dauber head, whichis formed of a porous material such as foam rubber or the like, is soclosely associated with the stem of the valve member that by depressingthe valve head, the valve member will be actuated.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the provisionof a dauber that is simple in construction, capable of preventingspillage or leakage, especially prior to initial use thereof, and whichis adapted to be formed from various synthetic plastic materials such aspolyurethane or polyethylene.

Additional objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of an applicator which is inexpensive to manufacture, capableof metering uid of various viscosities in an effective manner, and whichapplicator may be made in any convenient size as desired.

3,296,649 Patented Jan. l0, 1967 "ice A yet additional object of theinvention resides in the provision of an applicator which includes adauber assembly which is conveniently bonded in a novel manner to theapplicator container so as to provide an integral highly effective unit.v 4 In accordance with this invention, the dauber assembly is sealed tothe applicator container by means of induction heating of a gasketdisposed between the dauber assembly and the applicator` container sothat the gasket serves the dual function of providing a block againstseepage and for facilitating the fusing of the dauber assembly to theapplicator container.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of theinvention which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds,fare attained by this applicator, a preferred embodimentofwhich has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, by way ofexample only, wherein: j l l y FIG. l is an exploded sectional view ofthe invention illustrating the manner -iri whiclithe valve member andstem is assembled with the rest of the component parts;

FIG. 2 is a sectionalv detail View of the applicator illustrating themanner in which the retaining ring is sealed to the applicatorcontainer, and showing the valve member in position providing for aprimary seal;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail view of the applicator showing the valvemember in-position for secondary sealing; FIG. 4 is a sectional detailview showing the applicator in use with the valve in an operi position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the plane of line 5-5in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of theinvention showing the valve in position providing a primary seal;

FIG. 7 is a sectional detail view illustrating the applicator of FIG. 6,with the valve in an open position;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional-view taken along th plane of line 8--8in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another modification of the inventionillustrating the valve in a position providing a secondary seal in solidlines and illustrating the valve in op-en position in phantom lines;

FIG. l0 is ahtransverse sectional viewtaken along the piane of iin@iiiio in F1o. 9;

FIG. ll is a vertical sectional view of another form of the inventionemploying a plate for maintaining the dauber head in position;

FIG. l2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane of line12-12 in FIG. ll; and

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of an additional modification ofthe invention. With continuing reference to the accompanying. drawingswherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout thevarious views, and with special attention directed to the embodimentshown in FIGS. l through 5, reference numeral -20 generally designatesan applicator constructed in accordance with the concepts of the.present invention. The applicator 2@ includes a retaining ring 22adapted to be secured to an applicator container 24. The retaining ring22 includes a rib 26 for mounting a dauber head 28. Connected to thedauber head 28 is a valve assembly generally indicated by referencenumeral 30.

The retaining ring 22 has an opening 32 therein and the rib 26 extendsperipherally about the opening 32 and is spaced therefrom.

The retaining ring 22 is provided with a recess 34 which is undercut asat 36. Further, a plurality of passages `indicated at 38 are providedabout the periphery of the undercut portion 36. The passages 38 are oflthe same diameter so as to lie iiush with the inner surface width ofthe inner surface 40 of a projecting portion 42 inwardly formed with theretaining ring 22. The retaining ring is preferably molded of suchsynthetic plastic materials as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride,Apolyethylene or the like and the projecting portion 42 is of slightlyless diameter than the outer surface 44 forming the portion of largestdiameter of the retaining ring 22.

The projecting portion 42 together with the annular portion 44 of widestdiameter define a shoulder 46 at which there is an `annular groove 48for receiving a gasket 50 formed of copper, iron or steel or othersuitable metal. This gasket 50 serves as a lmetal ring susceptor so thatwhen induction coils 52 are placed outwardly of the applicator container24 and electric current is passed through the induction coils 52, thesusceptor ring 50 will become heated, causing the plastic material ofthe retaining ring 22 to fuse with the plastic material of theapplicator container 24. The applicator container 24 may be of anysuitable size and shape and is provided with an upper flange portion 54of lesser thickness than the lower container portion 56 so that ashoulder 58- corresponding to shoulder 46 is provided and so that astreamlined integral applicator is formed.

The dauber head 28 is generally of cylindrical shape having -a taperededge 68 forming a slanting top surface and is provided with a peripheralflange 62 over which the rib 26 is swaged to hold the dauber head 28 inposition. The dauber head 28 is preferably formed of a synthetic plasticmaterial such as foamed polyurethane or the like, and is provided with arecess or cavity 64 therein for receiving the steam 66 of the valveassembly 30. The assembly besides the stem includes a valve body 68 ofgenerally saucer shape. Both the valve stem 66 and the valve body 68 arepreferably formed of a synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene,polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane or the like which is rigid and yetflexible and is designed to be compressed so as to fit within the recess34 and resiliently engage the peripheral wall 70 defining the recess 34,with the stem 66 being received in the cavity 64 and preferably bondedto thev dauber head 28.

The valve body 68 as shown in FIG. 2 is in a position so as to primarilyseal the opening 32 against fluid flow from the container 24 and ontothe dauber head 28. However, as soon as the dauber head is firmlydepressed initially, the valve body 68 will be pushed out of the recess34 at which time it will then expand so as to fit within the undercut 36and engage the side wall 72 defning the undercut 36. The resilientconstruction of the dauber head 28, will, upon release of the dauberhead, pull the valve body 68 to such position that it will engage theshoulder 74 and form a fluid-tight seal. When it is desired to providefor fluid flow onto the dauber head 28, even slight depression of thedauber head 28 will release the valve body from engagement with theshoulder 74 so Ias to permit passage of fluid from the container 24.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention as 1s shown in FIGS. 6through 8, there is shown a simplified version of the embodimentilustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. In lthis form of the invention thedauber 120 is designed for insertion in the neck of a jar or bottle orlike container and includes a retaining ring 122 which has a rib 126 formounting a dauber head 128. Connected to the dauber head 128 is -a valveassembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 130. The retainingring 122 has an opening 132 therein and the rib 126 extends peripherallyaround the opening 132 and is spaced therefrom. The retaining ring 122is provided with a recess 134 which is provided with a plurality ofundercut grooves 136 therein as can be best seen in FIGS. 6 and 8. Thesegrooves define a plurality of circumferentially spa-ced ribs 138. Theretaining ring 122 is preferably molded of suitable synthetic plasticmaterial, such as polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or thelike and has its projecting portion 142 of slightly less diam-eter thanthe 4 outer surface 146. This defines a shoulder 148 adapted to lit therim of the container in which the applicator 120 is disposed.

The dauber head 128 is generally of cylindrical shape and has a taperededge 160 forming a slanting top surface and is provided with aperipheral flange 162 over which the rib 126 is swaged to hold thedauber head 128 in position. The dauber head 128 is preferably formed ofa synthetic plastic material, such as foamed polyurethane or the like,and is provided with a recess or cavity 164 therein for receiving thestem 166 of the valve assembly 130. The assembly, besides a stem,includes a valve body 168, which is generally of a saucer shape. Boththe valve stem 166 and the valve body 168 are preferably formed ofsynthetic plastic material, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride,polyurethane or the like, which is just exible enough to allow it to becompressed so as to fit within the recess 134 and resiliently engage thelperipheral Wall 176 defining the recess 134, with the stem 166 beingreceived in the cavity 164 and bonded to the dauber head 128.

The valve body 168 when in the position as shown in FIG. 6 primarilyseals the opening 132 against fluid ow from a container to the dauberhead 128. As soon as the dauber head 128 is firmly depressed initially,the valve body 168 will be pushed out of the recess 134 at which time itwill ride along the ribs 138 and allow fluid flow to pass the groovesand into the space between the valve body 168 and thence through theopening 132. The resilient construction of the dauber head 128 Will,upon release of the dauber, pull the valve body in such position so thatit will engage the shoulder 174 and form a fluid tight-seal. Thereafter,a slight depression of the dauber head will serve to push the valve bodyin position such as shown in FIG. 7, so as to permit passage of fluidinto the dauber head.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 is for the purpose of eliminatingthe necessity of swaging the rib of the retaining ring 22 or 122 as inthe previous embodiments. To carry yout this form of the invention,means are provided for providing a larger surface area of engagementbetween the valve stem and the dauber head.

In this embodiment the applicator which is generally designated by thereference numeral 220 and includes a retaining ring 222 adapted to haveits projecting portion 142 seated within a container 124. The retainingring 222 includes a rib or flange 226 within the periphery of which adauber head 228 is deposed. Connected to the dauber head is a valveassembly generally indicated by the reference numeral 230. The valve`assembly extends through an opening 232 in the retaining ring. Theretaining ring is provided with a recess 234 therein and the valve body268 is of a disc or saucer shape and functions in the same manner as thevalve body 168 or 68. However, the valve body 268 is provided with aopening therethrough for lockingly receiving the head 269 of the valvestem 266 so that the saucer 268 is detacha'bly secured on the valve stemafter the valve head has been inserted through the opening 232. Thesaucer engages a flange member 271, preferably integrally molded withthe valve stem 266.

The polyurethane foam dauber 228 is provided with an enlarged recess 280therein for reception of the conically shaped head 282 integrally formedon the end of the valve stem 266. It is not necessary to swage the rib266 in the manner that the rib 126 or the rib 26 is swaged because theconical head 282 sufliciently holds the dauber head 228 in place againstdisplacement during operation of the applicator.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1l and 12, there is employed a novelarrangement for holding the dauber head 328 -on the retaining ring 322.The retaining ring 322 of the applicator is generally indicated Iat 320and is provided with a relatively short rib or flange 324 in which thereis set a disc or plate 333. This disc or plate is provided with a seriesof apertures 339 peripherally spaced about a central aperture 341through which the two-piece valve stem 366 extends. The valve stem isprovided with barbed ends 367 and is preferably bonded to the dauberhead 328. Connected to the valve stem 366 is a saucershaped valve body368 of similar construction to the other embodiments of the invention.The retaining ring has its other portions of similar construction to theembodiments of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 or 6. The valve stem 366is formed in two pieces 390 and 392 which are threadedly securedtogether as at 396 for simplicity of assembly of the device. This formof the invention functions in a similar manner to the other forms of theinvention with fluid flow passing through the opening 332 in theretaining ring and thence through the apertures 339.

The retaining ring of the embodiment of FIG. 13, generally indicated byreference numeral 422, is very similar in construction to the form ofthe invention as is shown in FIG. 9. However, the valve stem 466 isformed of two major portions. The valve stem 466 has a recess forreceiving a tightly coiled portion 477 of a helical coil arrangementwhich includes a helical coiled spring 479 which is threaded in andseats within the dauber head 428. Depression of the dauber head willactuate the valve body 468 so that it functions similarly to theembodiments previously described.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure, Vand in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the present invention.

I claim:

1. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a tubularprojecting portion, a resilient dauber head secured to said ring, saidring having an opening therein, a valve member for closing said openingand including a valve stem extending through said opening and engagingsaid head, said valve member being initially compressed under stressengaging one part of said ring t-o primarily seal said opening so thatupon depression of said head, said valve member is pushed out ofengagement with said one part of said ring allowing said valve member toexpand, said head when released resiliently urging said valve memberagainst another part of said ring to secondarily seal said opening.

2. A fluid applicator according to claim 1, wherein said head has ahollow therein, said stem extending into said hollow and being bonded tosaid head.

3. A fluid applicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said head is ofsubstantial thickness and is formed of porous rubber-like material,

4. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring, a resilient dauberhead secured to said ring, said ring having an opening therein, saidring having a recess therein opposite said head, said recess being inalignment with said opening and being of greater diameter than saidopening while being of lesser diameter than said ring so as to define aperipheral flange and a shoulder, a valve member including a resilientsaucer-shaped valve body having a valve stem connected thereto, saidvalve stem extending through said opening and engaging said head, saidvalve body being initially compressed under stress and engaging saidflange to primarily seal said opening so that upon depression of saidhead, said valve body is pushed out of engagement with said flangeallowing said body to expand, said head when released resiliently urgingsaid body against said shoulder to secondarily seal said opening.

5. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a tubularprojecting portion, a resilient dauber head secured to said ring, saidring having an opening therein, said ring having a recess thereinopposite said head, said recess being in alignment with said opening andbeing of greater diameter than said opening while being of lesserdiameter than said projecting portion so as to define a peripheralflange and a shoulder, a valve member including a resilientsaucer-shaped valve body having a valve stern connected thereto, saidvalve stem extending through said opening and being secured to saidhead, said valve body being initially compressed under stress andengaging said flange to primarily seal said opening so that upondepression of said head, said valve body is pushed out of engagementwith said flange Iallowing said body to expand, said head when releasedresiliently urging said body against said shoulder to secondarily sealsaid opening.

6. A fluid applicator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said head isformed of foam rubber-like material.

7. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a tubularprojecting portion, a rib on said ring, a resilient dau-ber head, saidrib being swaged over said head securing said head to said ring, saidring having an opening therein, said ring having a recess thereinopposite said head, said recess being in alignment with said opening andbeing of greater diameter than said opening while being of lesserdiameter than said projecting portion so as to define a peripheralflange and a shoulder, a valve member including a resilientsaucer-shaped valve body having a valve stem connected thereto, saidvalve stem extending through said opening and being secured to saidhead, said valve body being initially compressed under stress andengaging said flange to primarily seal said opening so that upondepression of said head, said valve body is pushed out of engagementwith said flange allowing said body to expand, said head when releasedresiliently urging said body against said shoulder to secondarily sealsaid opening.

8. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a tubularprojecting portion, said ring having a peripheral rib extendingoppositely from said projecting portion a resilient dauber head disposedwithin said peripheral rib and secured to said ring, said ring having anopening therein, said ring having a recess therein opposite said head,said recess being in alignment with said opening and being of greaterdiameter than said opening while being of lesser diameter than saidprojecting portion so as to define a peripheral flange and a shoulder, avalve member including a resilient saucer-shaped valve body having avalve stem connected thereto, said valve stem extending through saidopening and being secured to said head, said valve body being initiallycompressed under stress and engaging said flange to primarily seal saidopening so that upon depression of said valve head, said valve body ispushed out of engagement with said flange allowing said body to expand,said head when -released resiliently urging said body against saidshoulder to secondarily seal said opening.

9. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring, a resilient dauberhead secured to said ring, said ring having an opening therein, saidring having a recess therein opposite said head, said recess being inalignment with said opening and being of greater diameter than saidopening while being of lesser diameter than said ring so as to define aperipheral flange and a shoulder, a valve member for closing saidopening, said valve member including a resilient saucer-shaped valvebody having `a valve stem connected thereto, said valve stem extendingthrough said opening and extending into and being bonded to said head,said valve Ibody being initially compressed under stress and engagingsaid flange to primarily seal said opening so that upon depression ofsaid valve head, said valve body is pushed out of engagement with saidflange allowing said body to expand, said head when released resilientlyurging said body against said shoulder to secondarily seal said opening.

10. A fluid applicator according to claim 9, wherein said ring isprovided with means deflning passageways for insuring flow of fluid pastsaid valve body when said head is depressed.

11. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ringv having a tubularprojecting portion, a resilient dauber head secured to said ring, saidring having an opening therein, a valve member including a valve -bodyfor closing said opening and including a valve stem, means detachablysecuring said valve stem to said valve body, said valve stem extendingthrough said opening and engaging said head, said valve body beinginitially compressed under stress engaging one part -of said ring toprimarily seal said opening so that upon depression of said head, saidvalve body is pushed out of engagement with said one part of said ringallowing said valve member to expand, said head when releasedresiliently urging said valve member against another part of said ringto secondarily seal said opening.

12. A Huid applicator according to claim 11, wherein said head has ahollow therein, said stem extending into 5 to said plate.

14. A fluid applicator according to claim 13, said plate having aplurality of spaced apertures therethrough.

15. A fluid applicator according to claim 11, said stem including ahelical coil spring mem-ber, said spring mem- 10 ber having an enlargedpart seating in said head.

No references cited.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Pri/muy Examiner.

15 S. E. BECK, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FLUID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A RETAINER RING HAVING A TUBULARPROJECTING PORTION, A RESILIENT DAUBER HEAD SECURED TO SAID RING, SAIDRING HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A VALVE MEMBER FOR CLOSING SAID OPENINGAND INCLUDING A VALVE STEM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND ENGAGINGSAID HEAD, SAID VALVE MEMBER BEING INITIALLY COMPRESSED UNDER STRESSENGAGING ONE PART OF SAID RING TO PRIMARILY SEAL SAID OPENING SO THATUPON DEPRESSION OF SAID HEAD, SAID VALVE MEMBER IS PUSHED OUT OFENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ONE PART OF SAID RING ALLOWING SAID VALVE MEMBER TOEXPAND, SAID HEAD WHEN RELEASED RESILIENTLY URGING SAID VALVE MEMBERAGAINST ANOTHER PART OF SAID RING TO SECONDARILY SEAL SAID OPENING.